Description
Object description
British officer served with Royal Fusiliers in GB and India, 1930-1936; served as staff officer with 78th Infantry Div in North Africa and Italy, 1942-1944 and with V Corps in Austria, 1945, including forced repatriations of Cossacks and Yugoslavs.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1909-1927: family background in Westmoreland and Canada; tradition of military service in family; story of joining Army, 1927; description of service with 2nd and 1st Bns Royal Fusiliers in GB and India, 1930-1936; reason for resigning commission, 1936; transferred to Army Reserve. Aspects of period with Royal Fusiliers in GB, 1938-1942: story of being recalled to the colours, 1938; description of duties as Adjutant with19th Bn Royal Fusiliers; role in formation of first Auxiliary Training Service unit; attitude to possible outbreak of war; description of formation of new battalions and preparations for war; story of combined operations exercises on Isle of Wight, 1941; opinion of raid on Dieppe, 1942; rank and promotion. Aspects of operations as staff officer with 78th Infantry Div in North Africa, 1942-1943: role of Blade Force in Algiers-Bizerte area; problem of shortage of supplies; description of ships being loaded and unloaded; living conditions.
REEL 2 Continues: further comments on shortages in Bizerte area; opinion of Rommel, Montgomery and Gen. Alexander; reaction to victory at El Alamein; nature of terrain and fighting on the Bizerte front; opinion of Eisenhower and US training; chain of command. Aspects of operations as staff officer with 78th Infantry Div in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944: opinion of 8th Army's suitability for warfare in Sicily; attitude to withdrawal of troops for Second Front; opinion of Montgomery's farewell speech at Taranto; problem of troop shortages during Italian campaign; amusing story about initials CMF (Central Mediterranean Force); description of landing at Taranto and advance across Italy; story of illness during winter 1943-1944; summary of 78th Div's movements across Italy; opinion of strategy of Italian campaign and role of Gen. Mark Clark; description of advance on Rome; story of arranging mass audience with Pope for the troops; opinion of mail service.
REEL 3 Continues: role organising food supplies during First and Second Battles of Cassino, 1944; importance of mules in transporting supplies; casualties; story of action at Monte Cassino leading to award of DSO, 4/1944; attitude to being wounded in genitals; opinion of padres and medical services; description of US bombing of monastery at Monte Cassino; opinion of Polish and French forces during Battle of Monte Cassino; story about Moroccan troops laughing after comrades had been blown up; description of assault across the River Senlo.
REEL 4 Continues: reaction to appointment of Gen. Clutterbuck as 78th Infantry Div. CO, 1944; story of being attached to V Corps as Senior Administration Officer and Quartermaster-General; attitude to working with Gen. Charles Keightley; description of German resistance during crossing of the River Po; story of V Corps moving into Austria following end of war, 5/1945; problem of POWs, refugees and Displaced Persons jamming roads; attitude to threat posed by Tito in Carinthia; further comments on withdrawal of troops from Italy for D-Day landings, 1944; links between 78th Infantry Div and other Battleaxe groups.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of operations as staff officer with V Corps in Austria, 1945: political and military situation in Klagenfurt, 5/1945; story about Gen. Keightley's first meeting with Russians; problem of threat from Tito to 13th Corps area and Carinthia; problem of lack of arms and food supplies; description of preparations for Operation Beehive; role of Gen. Alexander in clearing area of Cossacks and anti-Tito Yugoslavs; attitude to possible war with Russians; description of chain of command and communications; question of war not being over in Austria until 15 June; situation of the Cossacks; story of receiving list of Cossacks for repatriation from Russians and reaction of Gen. Keightley; problem of identifying Cossacks; reaction of Gen. Arbuthnott to repatriation of non-Soviet Cossacks.
REEL 6 Continues: description of screening process for Cossacks and problem of lack of documents; role in organising transport for Cossacks; cases of suicide; question of decisions made under wartime conditions; opinion of forced repatriation of anti-Tito Yugoslavs and Tito's promise of fair treatment.
REEL 7 Continues: attitude to Aldington-Tolstoy libel trial and Cowgill Reports, 1989-1990; opinion of Nikolai Tolstoy; reflections on issue of forced repatriations; story of helping Italian civilians during the war; story of founding rest centre for 78th Infantry Div in Sorrento, Italy, 1943.